The Diagnostic Uses of Serum Adenosine Deaminase, 5- Nucleotidase and Retinol in Oral and Laryngeal Cancers - A Crosssectional Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Oral and laryngeal cancers are the most common type of head and neck cancers in India. Oral cancers account for 9.4% of all head and neck cancers whereas laryngeal cancer account for 4% of all head and neck cancers. The disease process has better prognosis if it is diagnosed early. In view of this the objective of the study was to assess the reliability of non-enzymatic anti-oxidant retinol and serum enzyme markers adenosine deaminase ( ADA ) and 5-Nucleotidase ( 5-NT ) in oral and laryngeal cancer patients as supportive parameters for diagnostic purpose. METHODOLOGY: The present cross-sectional study comprised of 50 healthy subjects and 50 clinically and histopathologically confirmed patients of oral and laryngeal cancer age and sex matched attending the outpatient department of the Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Services of K.L.E.S. Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Belgaum during February 2009 to January 2010. Serum enzyme markers ADA, 5-NT and non-enzymatic antioxidant retinol were evaluated. RESULTS: In the present study, mean serum ADA level in controls was 19.8 ± 4.25 U/L while in patients with oral cancer and laryngeal cancer patients it was 41.1 ± 8.77 U/L and 48.4 ± 10.78 U/L respectively. The mean serum 5-NT level in controls was 8.7 ± V 4.15 U/L while in patients with oral cancer and laryngeal cancer patients it was 49 ± 10.45 U/L and 62.6 ± 13.96 U/L respectively. The mean serum retinol levels in controls was 41.1 ± 9.37 µg/dl while in patients with oral and laryngeal cancer it was 22.3 ± 5.81 µg/dl and 20.1 ± 6.53 µg/dl respectively. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION: The present study showed a significant increase in serum Adenosine deaminase and 5- Nucleotidase levels in oral and laryngeal cancer patients as compared to controls with p value < 0.000 and a significant decrease in serum retinol levels in oral and laryngeal cancer cases in comparison to controls with p value < 0.000. When various stages of oral and laryngeal cancer ( Stage , ,  and V ) were compared with controls, serum ADA and 5-NT levels were significantly increased whereas serum retinol levels were significantly decreased. The study concludes that serum ADA, 5-NT and retinol may be used as supportive biochemical parameters for diagnostic purpose and may add further for prognostic information in oral and laryngeal cancers.